I have had Botox injected only one other time before (in some internal pelvic muscles), which was a horrendously painful experience, so I was quite nervous for this appointment.
Although I was assured that the procedure was quick and painless, I opted for my husband to accompany me. If it did not go well, if I did not feel up to driving, I wanted to be prepared. I had no real reason to be as nervous as I felt... My doctor has been a brilliant addition to my medical team, I have had the medication before, so an allergic reaction was unlikely, and I felt that if millions of people around the world got Botox injected into their faces on a regular basis then I can surely handle it for beneficial medical purposes.
This treatment was recommended because of the frequency of my migraines coupled with the fact that I have been reacting to my prophylactic medication (Amitriptyline). Plus, a once-a-quarter treatment vs yet another pill might be nice, right?
Now, my doctor is a wonderful man who is dedicated to his patients and also has a great sense of humour. As he was setting up for these injections, I had no clue what to expect. In my mind I was imagining two or three syringes, injected into my lower neck and perhaps my temples.
No.
He sets out the tray with various needles, some pliers, and 200 units of Botox being drawn. On his desk is a Styrofoam head covered in colorful pins to show where the Botox can be injected. Many, of course, were cosmetic locations, but there were several pins associated with preventing migraines and even helping to prevent teeth grinding.
This is when I begin to become stressed. So many needles. So many pins. Pliers sitting there, for who knows what purpose, and the promise of a much longer process than I had imagined.
Suddenly, my husband utters: "Eggs and Bacon".
I was in such a daze, I thought he was attempting to comfort me, but was slightly confused.
K: "What?"
Rj: "His Socks."
My doctor also has a habit of wearing funny socks. His socks for this appointment featured a smiley face - two eggs and an upward-curved slice of bacon.
We all began to laugh, and now 'Eggs and Bacon' is my new mantra that I repeat for calming myself down, simply for its ridiculousness and lack of meaning. That comment did get me out of my daze, though, so it absolutely worked.
The procedure was very interesting.
Now, in my entire complicated life of difficult health, I have never agreed to liken a pain to 'pinching'. Medical professionals say it regularly - 'you'll feel a slight pinch' - and yet that has not been how I wind up describing pain. This, however, was more like a pinch than any other pain so far. It is more of a simple pin-prick, followed (sometimes) by a feeling of fluid rushing underneath the skin.
What got me feeling slightly woozy was when I heard - and felt - a slight cracking/crunching sound as the medication entered. It was explained that these spots were particularly tight, and the fluid expanding those spots caused the sound of Snap, Crackle, and Pop in my skin. In the back of my head, in my temples, and in my jaw.
He put all of the medication into the muscles in my forehead, my temples, in between my eyebrows, in the back of my head and neck, in my traps, and in my jaw.
It wasn't entirely painless, but there were only a few spots where I experienced lingering pain.
It is still too soon to know whether or not it will work, but I will update.
Oh, and the pliers were used to open the vial of medication and nothing else.
I think he has a morbid enjoyment for scaring me, which I find amusing. It works! He also described another treatment for acute migraines that do not respond to 'tryptans, which includes sliding a catheter up the nose and coating the basal ganglia in a nerve blocker, numbing agent, or Botox to help the patient. This both disgusted and intrigued me - though I have no wish or plan to ever require such a treatment.
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